China said on Monday it hopes the United States will eliminate racial discrimination and safeguard the lawful rights of ethnic minorities in the country as protests rock American cities after the death of a black man in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Black lives matter and their human rights should be guaranteed", Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily news briefing, adding that racism against ethnic minorities is a chronic disease in US society.

The unrest triggered by the death of George Floyd has again reflected "the severity of racism and police violence in the US and the urgency to solve those problems", Zhao said.

China hopes the US will fulfill its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and take concrete measures to secure the legitimate rights of ethnic minorities, he said.

The killing of Floyd and racism against African-Americans also received strong condemnation from Africa.

African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned Floyd's death in a statement on Friday, saying "The AU Commission firmly reaffirms and reiterates its rejection of the continuing discriminatory practices against Black citizens of the United States of America."

Noting that the voices against racial discrimination from Africa are a universal consensus of the international community, Zhao said he hopes the US will face up and listen to the appeal for justice from Africa.

China will stand with and support Africa to oppose all forms of racial discrimination as well as remarks that would provoke racism and hatred, he said.